Machico vs Santa Cruz: which Madeira town suits you?
Machico has more grocery stores on foot, more restaurants on foot and a closer bus station; Santa Cruz has less recorded crime.
Machico
12,567 peopleChoose Machico if you want
- Beach lovers: A beach 0.5 km from the centre
- More grocery stores within a 15-minute walk (7, against 3)
- More restaurants within a 15-minute walk (19, against 13)
- A bus station closer by (0.6 km, against 4.4 km)
Santa Cruz
6,010 peopleChoose Santa Cruz if you want
- Less recorded crime in the municipality (16.6 per 1,000 residents, against 23.3)
Side by side
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better and both values are precise.
Climate
Regional · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| Measure | Machico | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 17°C | 18°C |
| January low | 15°C | 15°C |
| July high | 24°C | 24°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 0 | 0 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 103 | 107 |
| Frost days a year | 0 | 0 |
| Days with rain a year | 118 | 118 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 10 h 00 min | 10 h 00 min |
| Sea in August | 23°C | 23°C |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | Machico | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 7 | 3 |
| Pharmacies | 3 | 2 |
| Doctors and clinics | 2 | 1 |
| Cafés | 6 | 5 |
| Restaurants | 19 | 13 |
Getting around
| Measure | Machico | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | – | – |
| Nearest bus station | 0.6 km | 4.4 km |
| Nearest hospital | 13 km | 9.6 km |
| Nearest beach | 0.5 km | 4.4 km |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 2.1 km | 2.1 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | Machico | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €5.98/m² | €9.02/m² |
| Sale price per m² | €2,070/m² | €2,853/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +112% | +126% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 23.3 | 16.6 |
People
| Measure | Machico | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,567 | 6,010 |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.3% | 18.2% |
| Under 15 | 12.3% | 13.9% |
| Born in another country | 8.6% | 10.0% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | Machico | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 1 | 1 |
Month by month
Regional · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machico | 17° | 17° | 18° | 19° | 20° | 23° | 24° | 25° | 25° | 23° | 20° | 18° |
| Santa Cruz | 18° | 17° | 18° | 19° | 20° | 23° | 24° | 26° | 25° | 23° | 20° | 19° |
At least one town's climate values are only known for the wider area, so the months are shown but not compared. Machico in November · Santa Cruz in November
Machico or Santa Cruz: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, Machico or Santa Cruz?
Average January highs are 17°C in Machico and 18°C in Santa Cruz, but the figure for Machico and Santa Cruz is only known for the wider area, so the difference is not reliable.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Machico: 7 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre, against 3 in Santa Cruz.
Which is closer to an airport?
Both use Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC): 2.1 km from Machico and 2.1 km from Santa Cruz, in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). Machico vs Santa Cruz: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/machico-vs-santa-cruz/